People Skills

He has been in the air four hours. When he gets to Orlando, the plane circles 45 minutes while a 3-year-old screams in the seat behind him. The computer ate his car reservation. He gets a compact. His head bumps the ceiling. Lunch gave him indigestion, so he skipped dinner. You're behind the check-in desk when he walks up, growls out his story and waits for your response. One wrong word and he'll chew your head off. It's your first hotel job, but you're not sweating this guy. Mark Dowling told you there would be days like this.

The chief of the U.S. Army's chaplain school has raised a caution flag about a new high-tech system under development in Orlando that uses computer-game simulations to train chaplains for ministering to soldiers on the battlefield. Known as the "Spiritual Triage Trainer," the nascent software project is the brainchild of the Army's Orlando simulation-research lab and a private military contractor. Its goal: to help new chaplains develop their decision-making skills as they encounter injured or dying soldiers during "virtual combat.

When Corporate America was fat and happy, companies didn't have to worry too much about whether their managers were adept at motivating people to do their best work.But no longer. With competition never fiercer and pressure to reduce costs and drive up earnings never stronger, senior managers are increasingly realizing how important it is for supervisors to have well-honed people skills.And, while the ideal candidate for a management job is still someone with a blend of technical ability and leadership skill, executives and management experts say it's more important these days to be able to inspire workers to greater heights.

Q. I'm the one at work no one likes. I'm the one that's hard to get along with, yet I am always respectful and nice to everyone. I am not a gossiper. This has been going on my whole work life. Within one to two weeks of starting a new job, it feels as though whatever "test" I have been given, I failed. And anything after that is just people putting up with me because I'm very good at what I do. Any advice? A. Yes, you are clearly not just very good at what you do but also smart enough to know you can learn what you don't know.

The National Training Center in Clermont is seeking dozens of volunteers for the Florida Great Escape at Lake Louisa on Sunday. Duties involve people skills, experience with body marking, finish line, transition, run courses, swimming starts and finishes. Volunteers also are needed for the USATF Spring Fling track meet March 17. Duties involve people skills, experience with javelin, weight, hammer throw, pole vault, long and triple jump, hurdle, high jump, shot put, race walking or discus.

The National Hurricane Center would have folks believe that Bill Proenza lost his job leading that agency because he irresponsibly spent all his time creating storms instead of predicting them. Not so. While Mr. Proenza shook things up at the center after taking it over from longtime director Max Mayfield in January, his blustery style amounted to more than a lot of hot air. Perhaps he proved too shrill in predicting dire consequences if an outdated weather satellite weren't speedily replaced.

Halle Ann Vermillion still recalls the thrill of working in the entertainment industry. From managing promotions for the annual MTV Video Music awards to coordinating events for the VH1 Fashion awards and holding presentations to lure more advertisers for Super Bowl XXXIII -- she has done it all. "In this field, you have to work and play hard," Vermillion said. "But in the end, it's very exiting and rewarding." Born in Pennsylvania, Vermillion grew up in Indiana and attended Indiana University.

When Jeanette L. Gordon was just 19, she was already a single mother, a full-time student and a full-time telephone operator in her native Charleston, S.C. Financially struggling and still living at home with her mother, Gordon decided to drop out of school and search for a more comfortable career. "Something had to give, and school was just the thing at the time," she says. Once she freed up more time, Gordon found work as a police dispatcher for the city. From there, she fell into an entry-level sales position for DialPage, a wireless telecommunications company, serving South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.

CUSTOMER SERVICE —— What we are looking for is customer service at the core. We need people that are great at delivering customer service. This individual must have a passion for serving and delivering a great experience to our customers so they become customers for life. If you have excellent people skills, enjoy helping people, and love talking face to face or on the phone. Then we would be interested in meeting you. $600-$800 weekly depends on your people skills. Please call 321-710-0867and send resume to jobs201256@yahoo.com WEB OS15513

ADMINISTRATION TELEVISION Preview Center Assistant Manager Seeking individual to assistant manage our television preview center. Resume must show strong managerial experience and people skills. Computer knowledge a plus!Position is Part-Time at present, but may lead to Full-Time. $11/hour with a guarantee of 20 hrs a week. Fax resume to: Attn: Personnel (407) 224-3773 or email: jobs@rab-inc.com EOE

ADMIN AND CUSTOMER SERVICE —— Fast growing company seeking individuals with excellent people skills and work well in a team env. This nontraditional customer care position is responsible for delivering a world-class customer experience. Wkly pay avg $475-$675. Exp a plus but not req. If qualify, call 321-800-4257 WEB OS15013

Warren E. Bachert, a lifelong Aurora resident who was active in his community, started as a teller at his hometown savings and loan and rose to leadership positions in the banking industry. "Everybody knew Warren Bachert," said Albert McCoy, Aurora's mayor from 1965 to 1977. "He was just one of those kinds of people — totally involved at every level. " Mr. Bachert, 91, of Aurora , former director of the Bank for Savings and Loans Associations and past president of the Illinois League of Savings Institutions, died of complications related to congestive heart failure Saturday, Aug. 25, at Provena Mercy Center in Aurora.

Across all sectors of the economy, employers are looking for workers who will make positive contributions not only with their technical know-how of specific fields but also with their attitude and their ability to work well with others. Some of the so-called "soft skills" required for self-presentation on résumés, in interviews and at the job, including communication skills and habits of punctuality, teamwork and personal responsibility, are not as routinely ingrained in the growing-up years as they may have been in the past.

You can't over communicate. But you sure can send mixed messages and make a mess of trying to convey important information, especially if you lack confidence, haven't developed leadership skills or presentation techniques. So, for those serious about polishing up on people skills, listening and presentation skills, Toastmasters, a peer group that helps people manage their messages effectively, is hosting a local chapter open house 7 p.m., April 10 at the Galleria Mall in Fort Lauderdale . The event gives area residents, professionals and business owners an opportunity to meet and greet.

ADMINISTRATION TELEVISION Preview Center Assistant Manager Seeking individual to assistant manage our television preview center. Resume must show strong managerial experience and people skills. Computer knowledge a plus!Position is Part-Time at present, but may lead to Full-Time. $11/hour with a guarantee of 20 hrs a week. Fax resume to: Attn: Personnel (407) 224-3773 or email: jobs@rab-inc.com EOE